Great List. Saving For Later.

Goddamn it I just switched to 11, I knew I'll regret it. Bye Bye Microsoft..

Ars Technica

New Windows AI feature records everything you’ve done on your PC

Recall uses AI features "to take images of your active screen every few seconds."

I think every computer user needs to read this because holy fucking shit this is fucking horrible.

So Windows has a new feature incoming called Recall where your computer will first, monitor everything you do with screenshots every couple of seconds and "process that" with an AI.

Hey, errrr, fuck no? This isn't merely because AI is really energy intensive to the point that it causes environmental damage. This is because it's basically surveilling what you are doing on your fucking desktop.

This AI is not going to be on your desktop, like all AI, it's going to be done on another server, "in the cloud" to be precise, so all those data and screenshot? They're going to go off to Microsoft. Microsoft are going to be monitoring what you do on your own computer.

Now of course Microsoft are going to be all "oooh, it's okay, we'll keep your data safe". They won't. Let me just remind you that evidence given over from Facebook has been used to prosecute a mother and daughter for an "illegal abortion", Microsoft will likely do the same.

And before someone goes "durrr, nuthin' to fear, nuthin to hide", let me remind you that you can be doing completely legal and righteous acts and still have the police on your arse. Are you an activist? Don't even need to be a hackivist, you can just be very vocal about something concerning and have the fucking police on your arse. They did this with environmental protesters in the UK. The culture war against transgender people looks likely to be heading in a direction wherein people looking for information on transgender people or help transitioning will be tracked down too. You have plenty to hide from the government, including your opinions and ideas.

Again, look into backing up your shit and switching to Linux Mint or Ubuntu to get away from Microsoft doing this shit.

Magnificent! I was hoping to find something like this, it's spot on.

I never liked these fences (and it seems no one else liked it either, as I couldn't find any recolor or retexture of them), but that changed once I found out that they were inspired by the Parisian subway stations in Art Nouveau style:

Lovely, isn't it? Therefore, I decided that a less shiny texture would fit them well, applied @cluedosims' rough metal textures to them and voilà! Now they're finally useful:

These are default replacements for the two fences in-game ("Nouvelle Fence by I. Ron Smith"), the green and the iron one.

I also found two other textures in the game files ("brass" and "white"), which I put in proper packages so now you can use them as well, and they're recategorized to appear neatly together in the catalog.

Since I linked these directly to the hidden Maxis texture files, they will pick up any default replacement you might have for these textures. In my default replacement file, those textures are replaced with @cluedosims' "bronze" and "silver" textures, respectively.

DOWNLOAD

⚠️ Not all the files are meant to be put in the Download folders! Here's what you need to know:

The three files inside the folder labeled "These ones go in your Res - Catalog - Bins folder" should go in this path:

C:/Program Files (or wherever else you installed your game)/The Sims 2/[your latest EP or SP]/TSData/Res/Catalog/Bins

If you don't want Cluedo textures, and you merely want to unlock the lost and found Maxis textures, simply abstain from placing the default file in your Downloads folder.

Please let me know if you have any doubts or if I screwed anything up.

Credits: @shastakiss / @cluedosims for the textures!

I thought so too but then remmembered it was actualy ATS, around the sims, I was thinking about. Its ts1 section is still up by the way.

Petition: Dedicated TS1 download section on MTS.

With the release of the Legacy collection, the original The Sims game has seen a resurgence in its modding scene. While much of the modding community is currently located in places like Tumblr or specialized sites such as Simblr.cc, most sites don't have the sort of infrastructure, history, or community that MTS does. 

While other sites such as TSR had a section for The Sims, they've recently locked them and prohibited new submissions. Additionally, TSR has a history of being driven primarily by profit while MTS is almost entirely driven my fans. It seems wrong that one of the oldest, and most established, Custom Content aggregate sites doesn't have it's own dedicated section for The Sims as so much of the games' original custom content from the 2000s disappears. 

MTS having its own section would make it one of the only custom content aggregate sites to have a functioning download section for the original game.

Change.org

This campaign needs you now

Fully Functional TS1 Section on MTS

New Mods Finds

I tend to avoid reblogging, I should probably set up a finds blog, but for now, here's a list of all the new mods I've found and started using for The Sims 2 in the last few months:

Shiftable Everything by @lamare-sims

50 New Lifetime Wants by @lamare-sims

Invisible Kitchen Surface by @lamare-sims

PSBs From Planter’s Paradise Recolors Fix by @simnopke

Time & Weather Manager by @simnopke

Convenience Store Clerk Outfit Fix by @simnopke

Longer Novel Titles by @simnopke

Immersive Rain by @bstu

Fix for Old Pine Trees by sam&skye

Max Slope Value Mod by @catherinetcjd

Go Steady Wants Fix by zachjohnunlimited

Trait Based Skill Gain Speeds by @fwaysims

Amicable Unbonding by @equinoxts2

Community Espresso Machine Now Sells Espresso by VirtualAlex

Fix for Broken Break Up Want by @profesionalpartyguest

4t2 Little Campers Functional Toddler Skill Toys by @elvisgrace

Closest Fridge for Cooking by @picknmixsims

Leftovers Overhaul by @picknmixsims

Charisma Gain while Chatting by @picknmixsims

Rabbit Pen as Toy Dog Pen Default Replacement by @deedee-sims & @episims + Rustic Edit by @pforestsims

No Caffeine Jitters by @episims

Crib Teeth Animation Fix by @episims

Colour Traits by @episims + all the mods for them:

Toothbrushes by Color Traits

Gifts by Color Traits

Coffee Mugs by Color Traits

Pencils by Color Traits

Engagement Ring Stones by Color Traits

Compatibility Addons/Edits by @jellymeduza

I have a mod list with all the mods I use, but I tend to keep new mods 'in testing' for a while before adding them to my list. I also get lazy and sometimes don't get round to updating it for ages. So most of these amazing finds are not yet on my full list, but I'm pretty sure they'll all be sticking around so will be on there soon! Check it out for more mod recommendations.

I'll be releasing some stuff myself soon so keep an eye out👀

Tumblr can defiantly close down without sufficient notice, I've read someone here saying it happened to them on another site before. I've been meaning to make other/backup accounts - as to not put all of my eggs in the Tumblr basket. Got Pillowfort and Bluesky now, and will probably get Dreamwidth as a more proper blog, now that WordPress is out of the question. So far it's a bit empty out there for ts2, but it'll probably grow.

Most importantly there's the regular forums and sites, which I believe to be better for sharing information & downloads. Nothing gets lost that way under endless scrolling. These (anti)social media sites are like chat rooms, good for chat, not for archiving information. I recently got back to modding, and because of the forums I got all the information I needed to mod this relic of a game.

Oh and if anyone's interested these are my accounts, I've also added links to the profile description.. Pillowfort BlueSky Garden of Shadows Mod the Sims Simblr.CC

matt just fired half the remaining tumblr support staff lmao

Resources for Creating: My Go-To things.

Update: I’ll be updating the list on this page from now on, since Tumblr can’t handle so many hyper-links in one post, on Dreamwidth - right here, so I won't have to update it multiple times. Please note: I keep updating this list, and updates aren't showing up on reblogs. Please check the original post for the most up to date list.

Sooo this is going to be a long comprehensive list. I got back to this game after a long time and with a different computer, with a dedicated graphics card, hurray! It made me want to return to making things, so while gathering back all the necessary stuff, I've complied this list. It might be is updated as I go along, but these are the main things I use. Maby one day i'll even finish something. So here are my go-to resources & tutorials; I'm posting it here for safekeeping, and hopefully others will find it helpful. Everything that's listed is here free. So many wonderful things for free under the cut.

Programs – General:

Creating: Blender. Blender Addons: 3D Print Toolbox – comes with blender, enable it from within the program. Originally for 3d printing. Good for fixing flipped normals, and some quick general repairs. Source Tools And source tools wiki – for exporting as SMD!!!! (SimPe: to enable bump maps for the mesh on import). GMDC Addon for Blender 4.0+ by Nopke.

GIMP. GIMP Addons: G'MIC-Qt. Resynthesizer. Nvidia dds?. Doesn’t it come with Gimp?

Other: Nvidia Texture Tools Exporter (iirc it works with all graphic cards that are compatible, doesn’t require Nvidia). For making Normal / Bump / Cube Maps. For high quality compression.

NormalMaps - Online, For making all types of maps, has good setting menus. A very cool tool.

Converting: Umodel, for Unreal Engine (Static meshes: export as gtlf.2. Animated meshes: export as psk. Requires Add-on). AssetStudio, for Unity. AC Viewer, self implied (+ USD Addon for blender). QuickBMS* and support forum, for basically everything else. (don't forget the required scrips, down the same page). *I haven’t tested it fully yet, but it was recommended here. A tutorial for it is listed further down. Works like a charm.

UV Mapping: UV Mapper, Classic (free) and the most recent Demo (for visualization).

Programs – Sims:

Never Mind the Bollox, Here's Osab and MAGIkarp to the rescue!

Latest version of SimPe, works with a non-default installation path. Chris Hatch's updates.

Home Crafter installation, Post by Huge Lunatic at Sims2Artists.

Repository Wizard, by Pick'N'Mix Mods. A game changer.

DBPF Compare, by Pick'N'Mix Mods.

Object Relocator, also by Pick'N'Mix Mods.

SMD Tools, by Lazy Duchess.

The Compressorizer, by JFade – Lazy Duchess's edit.

Bulk Rename Utility, to change file names in well, bulk. As explained by io here.

Lot Adjustor, by Mootilda at MTS.

Tutorials:

Override the game's graphic settings via Nvidia, as explained by iCad. The settings to Nvidia Profile Inspector she linked to at MTS have been deleted for some reason, here they are via WebArchive.

Meshing in Blender:

Mesh Optimization Info (and links), by Crisps&Kerosene.

Additional - Reducing Polycount:

Tutorial, by Flaming-Chickens (another username on other sites perhaps?)

Edge – Un-subdivide, a quick one by CG Link.

Transfer high poly details to low poly object in Blender, by 3Dnot2D.

Shrinkwrap Modifier - Blender Tutorial for Beginners - Basics, by in2vert.

Placeholder for this Addon that I want to try but haven't found, something for AR that was on facebook's defunct AR.

Scaling tips, by Blender Secrets.

How to fix inverted/ flipped normals, by ipaintsmallthings.

Converting: How to Extract 3D Models, Textures, Music from Unreal Engine Games, by iwanMods.

Extract 2D/3D/SFX Unity Assets fast & easy from your Unity Game, by iwanMods as well.

How to use QuickBMS, by darkhorse.

Guide to Converting 3t2 and 4t2 Part 01 and Part 02, by Chiaroscuro/tenlittlepandas.

Converting TS4 Windows and Doors, by Crisps&Kerosene.

Using Different Material Maps as Shading/Details for Base Texture, in Gimp or Blender, by Pineapple Forest & Crisps&Kerosene: https://www.tumblr.com/crispsandkerosene/764893644571525120/great-info-thats-the-reason-some-conversions?source=share

Texture Editing in GIMP:

Using Gimp Add-ons: G'MicQT. Resynthesizer. Both by Davies Media Design. This guy's channel for Gimp in general – here's a good one to begin with. And another one about layer masks.

Making a texture Tile Seamless: 1. My favorite - How to Make Seamless Textures for Cinema 4D - 3 Levels of Photoshop Wizardry using iPhone Photos, by School of Motion.

2. Simple Trick for More Realistic Texture Patterns in GIMP, by Davies Media Design – Quick and simple, using the Resynthesizer plugin. Good for patterns.

Making walls in SimPe out of a square texture, with minimal quality loss. To be written.

SimPe: Cloneable Objects: A List of Good Objects for Cloning, by IgnorantBliss at MTS.

Huge Lunatic's Tutorials, Her website.

Object Creation for Absolute Beginners, by Moune.

Sims 2 start to finish Object Creation Tutorial, by JWoods, Numenor, Lethe_s & IgnorantBliss.

The Material Definition (TXMT) Guide, by PixelHate – very comprehensive. Part 5 is about Bump/ Normal maps.

Null (Texture-less) Groups, by Skell. For bodyshop, for Objects see an elaboration by Midge the Tree below.

Crisps&Kerosene discovered how to add specular maps to objects! It's incredible there are still new things to discover in this ancient game.

More on Specular Maps, by Pineapple Forest.

Making new flooring & walls with SimPE, by Charisa. Includes adding Bump/Normal maps. She added a file to clone from in the comments below. It works for normal maps as well. Here's cool discovery in the game files.

Expanding footprint: a mini tutorial, by Deedee.

How to add correct drop shadows to objects, by Yuxi, via Wayback Machine.

Making Objects Viewable in Neighborhood View, by iCad.

Making Objects Visible In Build/Buy Mode, Invisible In Live Mode, by Midge the Tree.

Making Seasons-Friendly Trees, by Echo.

Io/ Serabiet's resources list, mainly for Bodyshop but not just.

Pineapple Forest's Tutorials, useful tips for efficiency and optimization.

MTS modding forum in General.

The Sims 2 Tutorials, on Tumblr. A database, is more updated.

Sims2Artists tutorials section.

LeeFish modding forum.

Garden of Shadows, Tree of Knowledge section.

Troubleshooting: What to do if you get a System.OutOfMemoryException Error, SimPe Forum, via WayBack Machine. Thank you @fanseelamb for the find.

How to read object error logs: I just want to know what causes it!!, by Episims.

Common TS2 errors, by Midge the Tree.

General game fuckery: How to Stop Sims 2 Crashing (Memory Allocation Fix and 4GB Patch Repair), by Jessa.

Graphics card problems, LeeFish forum.

Graphics help - DIY, by Kiri. How to fix faulty Texture Memory allocation, and the problems that stem from it. Tumblr can't handle anymore hyper links so here it is: https://celebkiriedhel.tumblr.com/post/189431721483/graphics-help-diy

General: Switching between save folders without renaming them, by Nopke.

Resources:

3D Models Online*: Various furniture designers' websites: Porada, Zanotta, Muuto, Hay, Poltrona Frau, many luxury furniture designer basically.

3D Warehouse, belongs to Sketchfab (get the Collada files).

Scan the World.

Wikimedia Commons. And more.

*(NOT OPTIMIZED).

Textures: Architextures.

Fabrics & Wallpapers: Natural Stones: Wall Plasters:

iCad's Woods. Shastakiss's Cluedo Metals, Yeti Metals, Pirate Woods. Goat's Woods.

Textures from other games: Dishonored, Thieve and much more, by Saricoya at GoS. Dreamfell by io.

Resource sharing threads at Garden of Shadows.

SimPe - General: CEP Extras list, HugeLunatic at Sims2Artists.

TXMT settings for different materials, by Hafiseazale.

Extended SimStandardMaterial Shader for the Sims 2 + Optionally Brighter Sims, by Crisps&Kerosene.

Custom CubeMaps, by Crisps&Kerosene.

Shiny TXMT Settings & Cube Maps Packs, by Pineapple Forest.

Build/ Buy: Templates for Recoloring Maxis items; MTS Templates sction, Hafiseazale (+cc), ZeroDark.

Template for Seasonal Trees, Gwenke at Sims2Artists.

Making Roof Recolors, Tutorial & template by Numenor, great template by iCad.

Pack for making food clutter usable, by DeeDee.

CAS: Default Makeup Packages - BYO Packages, by Huge Lunatic.

Body shape, Io/Serabiet on Tumblr.

Skin template, Io/Serabiet on Tumblr.

Hair texture, iCad.

Color Actions, Pooklet on Tumblr.

That's it for now.

Edit: forgot about CEP extras. Added more links. Edit 02: Added Troubleshooting section under tutorials.

SimPE Material Definitions Index:

DW link for a more legible layout. Another thing I made for myself and might as well share. Definitions have links to wiki. If I made any errors feel free to let me know.

Further Reading:

Texture Mapping – Wikipedia.

Materials in general – Unity Manual.

In SimPE – PixelHate's Guide to Material Definitions [TXMT].

Definitions:

Material Type: StandardMaterial (stdMat).

alphaRefValue – (I forgot)

deprecatedStdMatInvDiffuseCoeffMultiplier (idk)

reflectivity

stdMatAlphaBlendMode – Alpha Layer Settings (Responsible for Transparency).

stdMatAlphaMultiplier

stdMatAlphaRefValue – Reflection?

stdMatAlphaTestEnabled

stdMatBaseTextureAddressingU – Base Texture Settings (The Main Texture).

stdMatBaseTextureAddressingV

stdMatBaseTextureAlphaReplicate

stdMatBaseTextureEnabled

stdMatBaseTextureName

stdMatCullMode – Backface Culling Mode.

stdMatDiffCoef">0.8,0.8,0.8< - Diffuse Reflection – Coefficient [pretty sure. Isn't that Albedo?].

stdMatEmissiveCoef">1.00000,1.00000,1.00000< - Emissivity Coefficient.

stdMatEnvCubeBlurFactor">0.000000< - Environment Cube Map Definitions.

stdMatEnvCubeCoef">0,0,0<

stdMatEnvCubeLockedToCamera>0<

stdMatEnvCubeMode>none<

stdMatEnvCubeTextureName

stdMatFillMode>solid<

stdMatLayer>0<

stdMatLightingEnabled">1<

stdMatMinLightRangeHint">4<

stdMatNormalMapTextureEnabled – Normal/Bump Map Settings.

stdMatNormalMapTextureAddressingU

stdMatNormalMapTextureAddressingV

stdMatNormalMapTextureName

stdMatSpecCoef">0.53,0.53,0.53< - Specular Reflection & Specular Map Settings.

stdMatSpecMaskTextureEnabled

stdMatSpecMaskTextureName

stdMatSpecPower">1e+002<

(Not in SimPE - Albedo Map)

stdMatTextureCoordAnimMode">none<

stdMatTextureCoordAnimNumTiles">1.000000,1.000000<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimOrigin">0.500000,0.500000<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimRotSpeed">0.000000<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimRotStartEnd">0.000000,1.000000<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimRotWaveform">triangular<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimScaleSpeed">0.000000<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimScaleStartEnd">0.000000,1.000000<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimScaleWaveform">triangular<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimTransEnd">0.000000,0.000000<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimTransSpeed">0.000000<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimTransStart">0.000000,0.000000<

stdMatTextureCoordTfAnimTransWaveform">triangular<

stdMatTextureCoordTileAnimSpeed">0.000000<

stdMatUntexturedDiffAlpha">1<

WAIT. Does this mean the game can handle different height walls???

If you've used this method to unlock hidden TS2 walls/floors, you've probably seen these interesting numbered floor tiles and wondered what they were for. Well, I have no idea what the developers used them for, but I've found them really useful for distinguishing different areas when I'm setting up apartments/dorms/etc!

they claimed to have fix the pink soup…